U.S. Congress Asks For Joint Afghan-Pak Combat against Haqqani Network

The U.S. Congress passing a bill has asked Afghanistan and Pakistan Armies to jointly combat against Haqqani Network and target the militants.

However, Afghan government rejects any agreement of joint military operations between Kabul and Islamabad saying that if Pakistan stop supporting the terror groups, it will significantly contribute to the removal of terrorists in Afghanistan.

This is the latest attempts by the United States for bringing Afghan and Pakistan militaries closer after the announcement of Trump Strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia. The tensions between Kabul and Islamabad worsened after Pakistan failed to bring the Taliban leaders on negotiating table.

The bill refers to targeting Haqqani Network as the urgent needs in the fight against terrorism and describes the Network as a separate group from the Taliban. While, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of Haqqani network is the first deputy leader of the Taliban.

But Afghan Defense officials suggest no willingness for joint military operation with the Pakistan military and disappointingly insist on stopping Islamabad’s support of the terror groups.

“Stopping Pakistan’s support of the terrorism matters the most and if the country hesitate to conduct operation on terroristic targets, then it should stop such support and that will contribute to the security of Afghanistan and the region”, says Jawid Faisal, the deputy spokesperson of Afghan CEO, Abdullah Abdullah.

Afghan government sees Haqqani Network as the main military branch of the Taliban which has plotted the deadliest high profile attacks in the major cities of the country, mainly in Kabul.